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Freezing great cookies

Properly frozen cookies and cookie dough will result in great cookies and save you time and money.

Freezing cookie dough or baked cookies can save you money and precious time. When making your cookies to be enjoyed later you want to make sure that they will taste delicious and look great too. Proper freezing can ensure that your dough creates great cookies later, and keeps cookies tasting as good as they did the day they were baked.

Before freezing your baked cookies make sure they are completely cooled. Wrap your cooled cookies individually in plastic wrap and store them in a freezer bag or storage tin. You can also layer the cookies between layers of waxed paper in the container, but the individually wrapped ones will store longer. Make sure the top layer is covered with wax paper, plastic wrap or aluminum foil so that very little air will get to the cookies. Freeze frosted cookies uncovered first until they are firm and then pack them in an airtight container lined with plastic wrap or foil. Make sure to label the container with the date and type of cookies.

If you want to make your cookie dough but bake the cookies later, unbaked drop cookies may be frozen on cookie sheets and then transferred to freezer bags when frozen. Remove as much air from the freezer bag as possible. If cookie dough is not properly wrapped and sealed the dough will absorb any odors present in your freezer. Wrap the dough securely twice to prevent your dough from absorbing odors. This will also help to prevent unwanted freezer burn. Freezer burn is not a food safety risk but it affects the appearance of cookies and dough. It looks like grayish-brown leathery spots on frozen food. Freezer burn occurs when air reaches the cookies surface and dries them out. This happens when the cookies are not securely wrapped in air-tight packaging.

The suggested storage time for both cookie dough and baked cookies in your 0 ° F freezer is no more than six months. Most people have no problem eating their cookies within this timeframe!